Spring seat or bed.



W. LEWIS.l

SPRING SEAT 0R BED.

ArPucATloN FILED xuLY 2a. ma.

1,262,8 l y vPatented Apr. 16, 1918.

r En earns ATE Yr for WILLIAM LEWIS, 0F UTICA, NEW YORK.

' SPRING SEAT on BED.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. i6, i918..

Application led July 28, 1916. Serial No. 111,840.

To all lwhom it may concern:

side, preferably in rows, with their axes extending in the same general direction, and refers more particularly to means for mufing or reducing to a minimum the noise or click due to the striking of the convolutions of each individual spring or those of different springs one against the other.

The superiority of springs of this character, both as to comfort and durability .is generally recognized, with the result that they are extensively used in the'more expensive beds and other upholstered furniture, and also in the upholstered seats and backs of automobiles and similar vehicles.

lt is well known, however, that when these springs are assembled in the supporting frame in the usual manner and com,

pressed by pressure, the convolutions are brought more or less suddenly into contact, thus producing a clicking or grating sound which is materially amplified by the vibrations of the more free Dconvolutions throughout the length of the coils, in a. manner somewhat similar to the sound produced by the ordinary striker gong of a clock.

The main object, therefore, of my present inventionis to not only reduce to a minimum thepossibility of grating contact of the convolutions of adjacent springs ofthe various rows, but also to mulile as far as possible the vibrations incidental to the contact of one convolution with another, thereby rendering the entire set of springs practically noiseless.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.`

in the drawingsj Figure l is atop plan of a spring seat or bed embodying the features of my .invention but omitting the cover and pad,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. l. l

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have shown a system of spiral or helical springs -1, preferably of the double cone type, arranged side by side in longitudinal and transverse rows and in substantially the same horizontal plane.

In this'instance, all of the springs are of the same size, Vrthe end` convolutions being of considerably greater diameter than the intermediate convolutions which gradually diminish in diameter from the ends toward the center, thus producing the double cone effect, previously referred to,

Certain convolutions, in this instance,

those at the ends of the springs of the several rows are yieldingly connected by relatively small binder coils -2- of spring wire,

which binder coils, in this instance, run, j,

lengthwise of the several rows and are in-1 portions thereof not only embrace the outer edges of the end convolutions of the outer lengthwise rows, but also the adjacent edges 'terlaced with diametrically opposite sides of c' the end convolutionsof the springs so that of those of the several rows so that the lower and upper ends of all the springs are tied to each other by the binder coils to hold them in relatively lixed relation and normally in parallelism axially, at the same time permitting them vto flex axially under pressure.

Furthermore, if pressure is applied on any particular point in the entire surface of the system of spiral springs, the binder coils will serve to distribute the 'load from such point to adjacent springs, thus causing the l entire surface of the system t0 conform more closely to the'contour of the object pressing thereon, which conserves the life and resiliency of the springs and affords a more luxuriant seat or bed without adding materially to the cost of production.

Furthermore, by the use of these binding coils, the adjacent lower and upper edges of the several rows of springs are held in closer contact without in-any way diminishing the flexibility of the connection, thereby avoiding the snapping or grating sound incidental to the use of the usual clips or connecting chains.

Another and more important feature of esv los

openings `in such convolutions, asV shown more clearly in Fig. 2, so that said convolutions will be practically embedded in the mu'iiier pads.

These pads may be made in strips to exl tend to two or more adjacent helical springs,

and, in this instance, are of sufficient length to extend the entire length of each row and may be -made of felt, cotton batting or equivalent substance of suflicient thickness to lill the space between the adjacent convolutions under normal tension.

lVhen the pads are thus placed in operative position, the wire convolutions engaged therewith soon become embedded therein and operate toretain them in place, thus obviating the necessity of extra means of securement.

These pads also serve to mufe any sound which may be caused by the relative movement between the helical springs and the bindingcoils, and furthermore they prevent any possibility of bringing the end convolutions into contact with the next adjacent convolutions where the click and grating usually occurs. Another important advantage is that when any portion of the system of springs is subjected to pressure, the muflier pads will be similarly depressed into contact with the intermediate convolutions, thereby neutralizing, or, at least, deadening the vibrations Which would otherwise be transmitted to said intermediate convolutions.

It is now clear that the binder coils assist in reducing the noise of action of the coil springs without interfering with the flexibility of the entire system, and, in fact, materially aid in such iexibility by transmitting the pressure applied at any one point to other springs in the immediate vicinity thereof, while the muffler pads further reduce the liability of noise in the action of thesprin'gs by preventing contact between the end and next adjacent convolutions and by preventing the vibration of the intermediate convolutions, all of which contributes materially to the art of spring seats and beds, in addition to providing a relatively smooth surface over which theusual felt or naeaeia of springs may be supported upon or se cured to any suitable frame or support, not

shown, since the manner of supporting the" system of springs is immaterial and forms no part of mypresent invention.

What l. claim is:

1. In a spring seat or bed,'the combination of the system of helical springs having their ends of greater diameter than their intermediate portions and muffler pads nested in said enlarged ends in spaced relation axially and extending between the end convolutions and next adjacent convolutions to prevent contact between said convolutions.

2. In a spring seat or bed,.the combination of a row of helical springs arranged side by side with their axes extending inthe same general direction, and avmuffler padding inserted between the outer end convolutions and next adjacent convolutions of the several springs.

3. In a spring seat or tion of a spiral spring, and a muiiier pad inserted between one of the end convolutions and the next adjacent convolution of said spring.

4. ln a spring seat'or bed, the combination of a spiral spring having its convolutions gradually diminishing in diameter from the ends toward the center, and mu'lier pads inserted between both of the end convolutions and the next adjacent convolutions apart from each other.

5. 1n a spring seat or bed, the combination of a system of spiral springs, each gradually diminishing in diameter from the ends toward the center, said springs being Varranged side by side in rows with their.

axes in parallelism, and muffler pads nserted between both of the end convolutions and next adjacent convolutions of the several spiral springs in spaced relation axially o as to leave the intermediate convolutions ree.

ln witness whereof 1 have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of July, 1916.

bed, the combina- 

